Corner-fastener for beds.



PATENTED APR. 28, 1903.

M. F. MADDOX. CORNER FASTENER FOR BEDS.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 2, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

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UNITED STATES ATENT FFIGE.

MILTON F. MADDOX, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

CORNER-FASTENER FOR BEDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 726,554, dated April28, 1903.

Application filed January 2,1903. $erial No. 137,510. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern/.-

Be itknown that I, MILTON F. MADDOX, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State ofIndiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCorner-Fasteners for Beds, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to corner-fastenings for beds; and the object ofthe invention is to provide a fastening which will permit the bed-railto be reversed-that is, placed either side up.

The object also is to provide a fastening which will insure a firm andstable vertical position of the bed-posts at right angles to thebed-rail and to provide a fastening in which all of the parts are intactwith one or the other of the two parts to be joinedthat is, a fasleningin which there are no loose screws, bolts, or wedges to be misplaced orlost.

The object, further, is to provide a simple, durable, and inexpensivefastening device.

I accomplish the objects of the invention by the mechanism illustratedin the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a detail in elevationof a bedpost and bed-rail provided with my improved corner-fastening,the post being shown at only one end of the rail; Fig. 2, a top planview of same; Fig. 3, a horizontal section on the line-3 3 of Fig. 1;Fig. 1, a vertical section on the lines 4 4 of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 5, asection on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the severalviews of the drawings.

6 represents part of the metallic post of a bedstead, and 7 a sleevecast and shrunk upon the post. The sleeve has the vertical shank 8,which has an abrupt decrease in thickness on one side, preferably thattoward the outside of the bed, to form the shoulder 9. The thinnedportion of the shank has the perforation 10, with an extension 11 ofless width taking from the lower side of the perforation and extendingdownwardly from said perforation, as shown in Fig. 5. The outer wall ofthis extension 11 slopes inwardly at its bottom for reasons which willbe hereinafter explained, and the opposite wall may stand parallel withthe post 6, but will have an outward taper 11, as shown in Fig. 3, to

enable the mold to be withdrawn freely after the casting is made. Theinner face 12 (see Fig. 4) of said shank has an upward taper startingfrom below the slot 11.

The side rail 13 of the bed-frame is preferably of angle iron or steeland has the cast iron or steel head 14 terminating each ofits ends.These heads are reduced in thickness from their inner sides to formshanks 15, the counterparts of shanks 8 of the post. The reduction inthickness is abrupt to form the shoulder 16; but preferably the shank 15is longer than shank 8, in order that a close fit of the end of shank 15may be had against shoulder 9.

17 is a stud-pin which is inserted in the mold in which the head of therail is formed before said head is cast, and the pin is socurely held bythe metal of the head, which is poured around it in casting the head inthe same manner as the head is cast upon the rail. This pin ispositioned so as to register with the perforation 10 when the two shanksare brought together. The pin has a head which barely passes throughsaid perforation and a body narrowed on each side, so as to be capableof insertion in the slot 11. The said stem onits side adjacent totheouterorsloping wall of slot 11 is likewise sloping, so that when thepin is forced down in said slot the shank 15 will be forced against theshoulder S). This will hold the bed-posts firmly in avertical position.The inner faces of the head being those which contact with the shank 8are beveled from a mid-line upwardly and downwardly, as shown at 17 inFig. 4, to match the taper of the shank 8, so that the forcing of thepin in slot 11 will draw the two shanks together tightly to preventlateral movement of the bed head or foot. The double bevel of the faceis to provide for a fit when the rail is reversed or turned the otherside up. As the metal of the head in casting may not knit firmly to thematerial of the stud-pin, I insure its solid anchorage by providing thelateral ribs 18, which give sure engagement to the metal of the head. Toreverse the bed-rail, it is only necessary to turn the rail end for end.The corner 19 will preferably be rounded, as shown, and the contactingfaces leading both ways therefrom will be planes parallel with the post.

While I have only shown one slot and one stud-pin at each fastening, itis obvious that two or more might be used without departing from thespirit of this invention,'and I therefore do not limit my invention tothe number shown.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and wishto secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a corner-fastener for bedsteads, a post, a shank on the posthaving an abrupt decrease in thickness on one side to form a shoulder,said shank also having a perforation, a rail or frame fixture having ahead with a thinned end to fit against the shoulder and reduced side ofthe post-shank, said rail end having a stud-pin which passes through theperforation of the shank, said perforation having a reduced portion andsaid pin having a body portion adapted to enter the reduced slot andshoulders at each side of said body forming a head to engage the shankon each side of said slot.

2. In a corner-fastener for bedsteads, a post, a shank on the posthaving a shoulder and a downwardly-tapering slot in adownwardlythickening portion of the shank, a rail or frame fixturehaving a head complementary in shape to said shoulder and shank, saidhead having a stud-pin which passes through the perforation of the shankand draws the parts of the joint together in two directions when forcedto the bottom of the tapering slot.

3. In a corner-fastener for bedsteads, a post, a shank on the posthaving a shoulder formed by an abrupt thinning of the shank, saidthinned portion having a downwardly-taperingslot, and said thinnedportion of the shank having a tapering outer face which increases theshank in thickness downwardly to below the slot, a rail or frame fixturehaving a head with a reduced end to fit and fill the reduced portion ofthe shank said reduced end having a stud-pin with lateral enlargementsforming a head, said pin registering with and passing through theperforation of the shank when the parts of the fastener are united, theaction of the pin on the tapering slot and thickened shank being to drawthe parts together when the pin is forced down into the slot.

4. In a corner-fastener for bedsteads, a post, a shank on the posthaving a shoulder, said shank having an upward taper and having aperforation with a narrower extension from the bottom of saidperforation, the outer wall of said extension sloping downwardly towardthe post, a bed-rail having a head with a studpin projecting therefromadapted to pass through the perforation of the shank when the parts ofthe corner-fastener are assembled said pin having an expanded endforming a head and a narrower stem adapted to enter the extension fromsaid perforation.

5. In a corner-fastener for bedstead s, apost, a shank on the posthaving a shoulder, said shank having an upward taper and a perforationwith a narrower extension from its bottom, the outer wall of saidextension sloping downwardly toward the post, a bed-rail having a headwith a stud-pin projecting therefrom adapted to pass through theperforation of the shank, said pin having an expanded end forming ahead,the inner surfaces to contact with the shank being beveled, the stemof'the stud-pin being narrower than the extension from perforation ofthe shank and said stem having a sloping side to contact with theoblique slot of the shank.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, atIndianapolis, Indiana, this 23d day of December, A. D. 1902.

MILTON F. MADDOX. [L. s]

Witnesses:

JOSEPH A. MINTURN, JOHN B. SHERWOOD.

